Seasons

Just to give credit where credit is due, the inspiration from this blogpost came from comments made by my friend John Forester.

A lot of times we think that we need to really get our act together with God. We think that we are far away from him at times, or that maybe things would be going better for us spiritually if we could just get have a little more time with him or know a little more about the Bible. And maybe those things might make us feel better, but in reality we can't be any closer to God than we already are.

As John said "We are already as in with him as we will ever be." We don't need to wait for more of God because we already have access to all that there is--even when it doesn't feel that way.

Most people would probably tell you that winter happens because the earth moves away from the sun. But actually it's the opposite. In the Northern Hemisphere the earth is actually closer to the sun than at any other time of the year. The difference is that we are tilted away from it at an angle, and its rays hit us indirectly.

So really, when we are coldest, and feel the farthest away from the sun, the truth of the matter is that we are very close, we are just turned away, but when we turn to face the sun again in the summer, we can be warmed and rejuvenated by its rays no matter the distance.

Many times it feels like we are going through a spiritual "winter" in which God seems far away. But that's never actually the case. God is as close now as He has ever been or as He ever will be. But you must turn and face him directly. Just like the planet, our spiritual life will have different seasons. Though, I probably wouldn’t set my calendar on them. They are probably a little less predictable

insanity

I've been taking a lot of flack lately from my one and only existing fan because it's been a long time since I've blogged last. Apparently it was a lot easier for me to find time to blog when I was single and unemployed.

But I would like to take this time to share with y'all* my most recent adventure.

I've tried everything I could think of to lose weight except for eating right and exercising. I realized however that these strategies weren't working. The irregular schedule and plethora of free food available to the student affairs professional has been working against me this year and I'm thinking about getting t-shirts for everyone at ACSD that says "body by student affairs."

So last week I tried something drastic. Cortney and I stated doing the workout program "insanity." For those of you who don't know "insanity" is a workout created by the American Government to torture captives in Guantanamo Bay. It's a work-out video where a bunch of rock hard abs with bodies attached to them shout encouragement while your stamina and self esteem plummet through the floor.

The secret to Insanity is that you have to be in really good shape before you can start working out. Now anyone who likes this product or is trying to sell it will assure you this isn't true. They'll say things like "no it's for everyone" or "just do what you can do." This is the equivalent of encouraging some one who hasn't worked out in a while to run a "beginners marathon" or just "take it easy" while running the bulls in Spain...with a piano on your back... and breathing through a straw.

I don't know exactly HOW effective this workout is yet because we've only done it two days but I have thrown up some, so I have lost at least a little weight. So far I have attempted two times to make it through the first session. I made it about half way through the second time, and I was pretty pleased with my progress. My "jumps" and "lunges" probably looked more like a sleepy bear trying to do the Macarena but it was progress. Cortney had to stop when I stopped through because the sound of throwing up grosses her out.

Did I mention that the first session is just a "fit test"?

This is why I am working on a new line of work-out videos called "sanity" be on the lookout for these casual "get fit gradually" videos that will be sure to make your work-out more enjoyable.

Each video will contain 3 separate 8 minute workouts (most of which will be cool down stretching) and will be geared towards what we all really want in a workout--the feeling that you actually did something.

As you shuffle from side to side and take water breaks you'll hear me shout encouraging phrases like "hey those shorts look great!" and "how about another energy drink!" If you include getting changed, firing up the DVD player, taking a shower, and chugging a chocolate protein shake, you'll have spent a solid 25 minutes working out. Enough to convince YOUR spouse and friends that you are serious about this fitness thing.

Sign up today for the "SANITY" newsletter!

SANITY--a workout that never lost its mind.



*That's Texas for "to whom it may concern"

Section 5

So, maybe you knew maybe you didn't, one of the reason I've been blogging so little lately is because I'm trying to take a lot of these blog thoughts and turn them into something longer. I don't want to say I'm writing a book because then I feel pretentious and like I think I take myself too seriously. Maybe I can say that I'm writing a book as long as no one ever thinks I expect to write a GOOD book.

Still to risky. Lets just say that I spend time every now and again writing "stuff" and if that "stuff" ever winds up having a spine and a binding, that would be great.

Here is the most recent "stuff." I've written. As always, I'm posting rough drafts of things I haven't even read back to myself yet. The only advice I ever hear for people who want to write is "just keep writing, don't worry if it's good or bad. Get it down on paper. Later you can look at it again and figure out what to do with it. But if you write something bad you're a lot closer than if you wrote nothing." So I'm trying to power my way through and I'll take a look at all of this later.

The reason I keep putting it here? Because I feel kinda bad that I've been ignoring my blog and I want both of you who still check it to see that there is a "legit" reason.

But anyway, I suppose I've given you all enough disclaimers for the rest of my life. If you actually want to look in on what I'm doing, here is the most recent section. My next blog post will probably be about the next section I write.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K2cv7vQGcAvSCK3lFZtRt4MM9pRQZ_iXilZRkzfs7ak/edit?hl=en_US&authkey=CICjhKsG

Because no one is reading anyway

Hey friends

here is a link to my next "section"

I should point out though that these sections are still very very rough ideas. As I read through them I realize that there are all kinds of problems with the writing and things I should do differently, stuff I should include, etc.. So if you don't want to read something riddled with mistakes I would probably just move on past this one.

Section 4

Game Plan

So I often times rub up against the idea of God's will in our lives. I say "rub up" because I don't really have the theological wherewithal to really tackle that issue and I'm not really sure what i would say about it if I did. So I kinda skirt around the issue and make a tangental point. And that's what I'm going to do again.

I've been wondering for a long time, "How does one approach life if you are going to be looking for God's will, which is unknown? How does one make decisions? And what does it really look like to be open to God's will in a situation where you already had your own plans?

Once again I will rely on my two oldest and most trusted friends. Metaphors and Jim Tressel.

When Jim makes a game-plan, he does his research, he studies the other team, he prepares, and he comes up with a strategy and plan for the upcoming Saturday based on the knowledge he has, and his best guesswork on how the future is going to unfold. He uses past experience and all the powers at his human disposal to figure out the best way to get his team ready to win (and he dos so quite admirably I would say)

However, when the game comes, Jim doesn't just stick with the plan if it isn't working. And he doesn't script out an entire game's worth of plays. Instead he reads the situation as it unfolds and takes what the other team gives him. If the running game isn't working, he moves to the passing game. Game plans were meant to be tweaked, and if necessary, discarded.

What shall we say then? That coaches shouldn't make game-plans? That they should just wing it when they get to the game? By no means! The planning and preparation that takes place before helps to bring context to split decisions. Preparing is good stewardship and it shows that you are doing your best with the resources you have.

In real life you might not always be hearing the voice of God telling you what to do at every moment. In those instances you have to do your best with what you have. You need to marshal your resources, past experience, and knowledge to do what you think is best even if you are unsure what that is. The future is unknowable, and sometimes even the present is foggy.

Making a plan for the future, or picking a way to proceed at the present is not the absence of trust, it is the presence of responsibility and common sense. However, one needs to be able to abandon the "plan" at a moments notice when and if it becomes clear that God wants something else. How will you know? You might not. But over committing to your own plans isn't a way to find out. Actually it's ust a goof way to lose a ball game.

In case anyone is interested

Hey friends

Not sure if anyone cares, but if you do I finished "section 3" of "my files" (which is what I call the stuff I write because I'm too realistic to call it a book)

I'll admit, I think it's got some decent ideas but towards the end I think it will make you say "wait, did we change topics while I wasn't paying attention? That kinda just turned into something else. I think a little editing is in order here."

You're right. A lot of editing is in order. In fact, you don't have to read it. But what's the point of having a blog if you won't post your writing on it?

Feel free not to click on this link, I won't be offended, and I probably wont ask you if you read it or not. But if you DO want to read more of my "not book" Just click...

Here

Victory over the South!

I come today to tell you a story of perseverance and determination. A story about the underdog. A story of a young man who wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

Today, I got my driver's licence in the mail.

For those of you who don't know, it is Texas state law that all working residents who wish to drive must have their TEXAS issued driver's licence within 90 days. It took Cortney and I a little over 240 days.

Join me as I recount this epic tale of daring do and heroism.

1) Cortney and I went to the Texas DMV, but they told us that we needed to get our vehicles inspected first
(In Texas, you need to pay money to have someone tell you that your vehicle is "ok" to drive once a year.)

2) So we went to three places that we had been told inspected vehicles. ($20 each)

3) The third place agreed to inspect MY vehicle but would not inspect Cortney's because she didn't have proof of insurance.

4) Cortney's parents sent her a copy of her insurance card

5) I asked if I could get another copy of my "inspection certificate" (I thought I had lost mine)

6) You cannot get a copy of your inspection certificate, they have to call "The state" and cancel it so they can charge you for a new one.

7) I found my inspection certificate.

8) We went back to the DMV where they told us we needed to register our vehicles first

9) They told us we couldn't register our vehicles without speaking directly to our insurance agent since we were out of state

10) Cortney did not have adequate coverage

11) we bought new insurance for Texas

12) Cortney registered her car for another $130

13 I couldn't register my car because my car was still in my dad's name

14) My dad couldn't transfer the car to my name because he no longer had a copy of the registration (I had it)

15) My dad and I met over thanksgiving so Ohio certify that Dad gave me his Car

16) Texas would not accept the title transfer without a gift receipt.

17) We applied for a driver's licence ($30 each)

18) Three weeks later it arrived in the mail.

I still haven't registered my car, and Cortney's car is still in her maiden name but whose counting? We can drive now!